| From the Principal |
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Dear Kent Elementary Families,  Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year. It's hard to believe that summer vacation is almost over. What an exciting year is ahead for the students, staff, and families of Kent Elementary! Great things are happening for students at Kent. Kent Elementary will once again be rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency! It is the partnership and dedication of students, staff, and parents that allows continued success on our campus. Our goal is to provide a child-centered environment where each child enjoys learning and is challenged to reach his/her potential. We strive not only to develop students academically but also develop their leadership skills and communication skills so that they may flourish as members of our society. Our school day begins every morning at 8 am. Students should be in their classroom ready to learn by 8:00. Students may begin arriving by 7:30. Our first day of school is Monday, August 25th. It is a blessing for me to be the principal of this amazing school. I look forward to working with you throughout the school year. If I can be of any assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to call. Debbie Williams Principal |
| From the PTA President |
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 There's a great article on the National PTA website entitled "10 Ways for Parents to Help Teachers" by Mimi Doe. When reading through the list, it's interesting to see that the list is made up of simple ideas that your family may already have done in the past. Maybe you'll find something new to try or maybe it will be a reminder to return to a tried-and-true routine. You can read the entire article by visiting our website at www.KentPTA.org but here is a quick look at Ms. Doe's 10 tips.
- Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work.
- Create a predictable ritual such as 10-20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day.
- Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches.
- Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings.
- Remember it's your children's homework, not yours.
- Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts.
- Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions.
- Be a partner with your child's teacher.
- Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.
- Tuck a "love note" in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is.
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Kent PTA - Doing More than You Know |
Did you know that by joining our Kent PTA, your membership dues help support the following special programs for our children?
 Red Ribbon Week's Be Drug Free Program & Family Fun Night
- EPA Contest and Earth Day/Environmental Awareness
- Reflections Art Contest
- Host Parent Education Programs
- The Motivational Productions Character Education Program
- Support our Local Clothes Closet
- Metrocrest Services Food Drive
- Provide New Books for our Teachers and Library
- Back-to-School Swim Party
- Family Skate Night at Interskate
- Our Cultural Heritage Fair Celebrating our Diversity
- Hospitality Luncheons to Thank our Wonderful Teachers & Staff
- Purchase Gift-to-School Items such as Microscopes, Fitness Equipment, Globes, and Lots More!
- Prepare and Distribute the Kent PTA e-Newsletter
- Maintain our School Calendar and PTA Website
- School Directory and Yearbook
We invite you to support your Kent PTA by joining during our School Supplies Sale and Meet-the-Teacher. Our goal is to have EVERY parent become a member of Kent PTA. It's very easy -simply check PTA Membership on your form and pay the nominal $5 membership fee (per parent/adult family member - grandparents are welcome to join too!) when you purchase school supplies at Kent. In addition to supporting our programs, your family will also receive one Student Directory when you join Kent PTA.
PTA's Mission contains three elements: Parent Education, Child Advocacy, and Parent Involvement. This year's membership theme captures these elements and reminds us that we are heroes who lead our PTAs to success.
Thank you so much for your support!
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| School Supply Sale |
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Thursday, August 21, 8-11am & 4-6pm
Avoid the W**Mart rush, buy your pre-packaged school supplies from Kent PTA! One stop shopping for back-to-school. All Name Brand Products: Crayola, Mead, Fiskars, etc.
 Grade Level Prices: Pre K = $25 + $7 backpack
Kindergarten = $35
1st Grade = $27
2nd Grade = $34
3rd Grade = $43
4th Grade = $32
5th Grade = $38 + $8 recorder
Kent Yearbooks: $24, prices will be raised to $30 on October 1.
Spirit Wear On Sale TAX FREE (Thursday only). Suggested for school events & field trips. Prices good through September 15.
Cardinal Bling = $1
Hats & Caps = $3
Youth-Sized Shirts = $5
Adult-Sized Shirts = $7
 Cash or Check - Sorry, No Credit Cards
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| Meet-the-Teacher |
August 21, 4:30-6:00pm
Meet your teacher Thursday, August 21 from 4:30-6:00pm. Classroom assignments will be posted Thursday, August 21. Stop by the PTA Back-to-School Sale, meet your teacher and leave your school supplies in the classroom.
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| Hospitality |
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 We're so excited to kick off the new school year and we would love your help in the hospitality department. Three times a year, we host a luncheon for our wonderful Kent staff and there are various other functions through the year where we would love some helping hands. We are grateful for help in the kitchen on the day of the luncheons, and food donations are always much appreciated.
Please provide your contact information on the volunteer sign up sheet - it's a great way to meet other parents. Also, once you have 'deposited' your children in class on the first day of school, please join us for "Yahoo's or Boo Hoo's" in the cafeteria - come and go from 8-9. Donuts, coffee and juice will be served. Looking forward to catching up on every one's summer fun!
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| Cardinals Vote "Yes" for Summer Reading! |
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Becky Brewer, Kent Librarian
 Don't forget to bring your "Vote for Books" summer reading journal back to school by Friday, August 29th. All of you who completed your reading logs over the summer will be invited to a celebration in the library.
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| PTA Meeting & Back-to-School Pool Party |
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 Welcome back to school! Let's celebrate the beginning of the school year with a Pool Party! It will be a great time to reconnect with old friends (and make some new ones, too). So join us at the Rosemeade Rainforest on Friday, August 29, from 6-8pm -- PTA Meeting at 7pm. The whole pool complex will be reserved just for Kent Cardinals! Bring your whole family! The concession stand will be open, or you can bring your own drinks and snacks. All children must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Student Enrichment |
| Lori Neale, Student Enrichment VP Enrichment@KentPTA.org
 Parents, teachers and staff, we are looking for your inputs on a very important subject: PTA Gift to School. We would like to do something very meaningful and significant for our school, and ensure the funds be spent in a timely and wise manner during the 2008-2009 school year. We have begun investigating several great suggestions over the summer, but would like to give you another opportunity for suggestions during the first few weeks of school. Please send any inputs to Lori Neale at Enrichment@KentPTA.org by September 15th. We look forward to giving a wonderful gift (or gifts) to "The Best of the Best!!"
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| 2008-2009 Reflections |
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 This year's Reflections theme is "WOW!" You can start work now. All entries must be new original works based on this theme. Reflections is a National PTA Sponsored cultural arts program. You can create artwork, photography, music, literature, dance choreography, or film/video production. Watch for entry forms and deadline dates.
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| FUNdraising |
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 "So, why do we need to fundraise?" you are probably asking yourself. Actually, our annual dues cover only a fraction of KentPTA expenses. It takes funds to support all the great programs and events our PTA provides (see Membership article above). As well as Enrichment projects like classroom items and Gift to School (see Enrichment article above). All worthy and necessary expenditures to continue to provide our membership with the highest level of support for children and their parents.
Did you know there is an online shopping aspect to our fundraiser? It makes it really easy for you, your friends and relatives to participate, even if they live out-of-town. In particular, check out the magazine section -- TONS of subscriptions available at the same prices Amazon charges, except KentPTA receives a large portion of the profits!
Check it out -- browse and pay online. The website is www.qsp.com, and our school number is 710327750. If you forget, the information is on the left side of the home page of our website ( www.KentPTA.org). You can order online all through the year, and your child will get credit and the PTA will get the ca$h.
Thank you so much for your support of fundraisers in the past -- another reason why Kent is "The Best of the Best!"
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| Cardinal Calendar |
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Is online! Check our website ( www.KentPTA.org) for the latest updates. A link to the "printed and sent home" version of the Cardinal Calendar is on the Calendar page of our site. |
| Youth Protection |
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 Here is a new internet service that take crimes and plots them on a Google map so the general public can access crime statistics for free. This is a great way to see your own neighborhood and see what the issues are.
The address is www.crimereports.com. Looks like for now, it works best when you type in the zip code. Once the map comes up, you can view by three, seven, fourteen or 30 day periods or select a specific date. |
| Parent Education |
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Did you know that Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD offers free parent and parenting classes? The district's Student, Family & Community Services Division has published its fall series of workshops, and this year they're offering classes 2 days a week. These classes are held over the lunch hour: "Instructional Tuesdays" are brown bag sessions (bring your own lunch), and "Lunch 'n' Learn Thursdays" lunch is provided. They even provide free childcare, so it couldn't be easier.
All classes will be held at noon at:
Community Learning Center
1820 Pearl St. Bldg. B
Carrollton, TX 75006
"Instructional Tuesdays" (brown bag) sessions:
Sept.16th - Learning Math (Elementary) Instructor: Pam Smith
Sept. 23rd - Learning TAKS (Elementary Level) Instructor: Dr. Janet Restivo
Sept. 30th - Learning Math (Middle School level) Instructor: Pam Smith
Oct. 7th - Choosing Advanced Classes (Elementary level) Instructor: Nancy Terry
Oct. 21st - Choosing Advanced Classes (Middle and High School) Instructor: Nancy Terry
Oct. 28th - Learning to Navigate the C-FB ISD Website (Elementary, M.S. & H.S.)
 "Lunch 'n' Learn Thursdays" (lunch provided) sessions:
Sept. 18th, 25th & Oct. 2nd - Parenting with Love and Logic
Oct. 9th - Internet Safety
Oct. 16th - Food and Fitness Matter
Oct. 23rd - The Silent Epidemic
Oct. 30th - Understanding Depression
Nov. 6th - Communication with Your Teenager
Nov. 13th - Helping to Resolve Conflict
Click here for the flyer with more information. And check out the "Parent Ed" page of our website for the latest updates. |
| Texas PTA Legislative Updates |
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 TCEQ AND TEXAS PTA PARTNER TO CLEAN UP THE AIR
Reducing Particulate Matter Emissions from School Buses
August 7, 2008
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas PTA
announced today that they will work together to distribute funding to clean
the air and protect school children from harmful particulate matter by retrofitting school
buses. The funding will come from a portion of penalties assessed by the commission that
are used to support Supplemental Environmental Projects.
"I am delighted that the PTA is joining us to administer funds to clean up school bus
fleets in Texas," said TCEQ Commissioner Larry R. Soward. "Working with such a
strong partner gives each of our organizations a greater positive impact on the air quality
of the state and the health of our school children."
Through SEP funding, Texas school districts can install pollution control devices on
diesel school buses. These devices reduce particulate matter emissions that can aggravate
respiratory problems, asthma and allergies in children who ride the buses. Funding may
also be available to replace buses model year 1991 or older with 2007 or newer models
resulting in a reduction in particulate matter emissions of up to 90 percent or more.
"Drivers, students, passengers and teachers are all subject to harmful diesel exhaust
emissions from school buses on our roadways," said Kyle Ward, Texas PTA executive
director. "We look forward to distributing funds to school districts to reduce these
problems through the use of cleaner technology."
Individual projects are funded based on qualifying enforcement actions taken by the
commission. The amount of funding the PTA can receive is up to a maximum of
$5 million per year, and the number of locations and projects may vary.
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| Make a Difference |
Christi Victor, Volunteer Chairman Volunteer@KentPTA.org
 Help enrich your child's education by volunteering at Kent. To become a volunteer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Register with the school district to become a volunteer. This includes setting up a volunteer profile and getting a background check, both of which are done online at www.cfbisd.edu/volunteer
(CFBISD requirement for the safety of all the children)
Step 2: On the Volunteers page of our website (www.KentPTA.org/volunteer.html), fill out & submit the convenient online Kent Volunteer Form OR fill out the Kent Volunteer Form in your first day packet so you can find a place to plug in this year with special events. Return the form to the teachers. Also, watch for information to come home in the Tuesday Folders regarding volunteer orientation times.
Once you start volunteering, be sure to record your hours on the school check-in system.
Contact Christi Victor, our Volunteer Coordinator, at Volunteer@KentPTA.org to learn more about how you can make a difference.
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